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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Forgot just how good Mark Billingham is. It’s been a while. Based about 25 years ago, it was so weird reading mentions of the past things in the news and no mobile phones etc. This is a prequel to Sleepyhead, the first book I read by this author which was gripping and unusual , I’ve now read plenty. But there’s plenty more to read by him so onwards I go.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'Cry Baby' is the 17th book in the hugely popular Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham. Set back in 1996, when Thorne was haunted by his previous cases, ‘Cry Baby’ is a prequel to ‘Sleepyhead’, the first book in the Thorne series.
Due to the timeframe, the story provides some useful background to DS Thorne and explains how he became the troubled detective that we know and love today. This time around, Thorne is struggling to come to terms with the breakdown of his marriage, while investigating the type of case that all officers dread – a missing child. While mums Cat and Maria are talking, their children Kieron and Josh are playing ‘hide and seek’ within the nearby trees when Kieron goes missing.
As the days pass by, the tension builds and the likelihood of Kieron’s safe return diminishes. The story moves at a rapid pace with the point of view, interchanging from Thorne, Henderick, Maria and Cat. This allows us to understand the story from various viewpoints and gives the reader a better insight into each character, along with revealing some potential clues about Kieron’s disappearance.
There are many interconnecting storylines which ensure that the suspense does not break for a moment and that there is plenty happening to hold the readers interest. And, being set in 1996, I found it fun to read through all of references to the 90’s and the emergence of technology that we know today: John Major as Prime Minister, Jill Dando on Crime Watch, phone boxes, ‘portable phones’ and floppy disks, computers – and smoking indoors.
Absolutely worth a read for newcomers and fans alike. Ahead of the release of the 18th Tom Thorne book this summer (The Murder Room), I opted to reread - or listen to this book so that I could get back into the series.
Due to the timeframe, the story provides some useful background to DS Thorne and explains how he became the troubled detective that we know and love today. This time around, Thorne is struggling to come to terms with the breakdown of his marriage, while investigating the type of case that all officers dread – a missing child. While mums Cat and Maria are talking, their children Kieron and Josh are playing ‘hide and seek’ within the nearby trees when Kieron goes missing.
As the days pass by, the tension builds and the likelihood of Kieron’s safe return diminishes. The story moves at a rapid pace with the point of view, interchanging from Thorne, Henderick, Maria and Cat. This allows us to understand the story from various viewpoints and gives the reader a better insight into each character, along with revealing some potential clues about Kieron’s disappearance.
There are many interconnecting storylines which ensure that the suspense does not break for a moment and that there is plenty happening to hold the readers interest. And, being set in 1996, I found it fun to read through all of references to the 90’s and the emergence of technology that we know today: John Major as Prime Minister, Jill Dando on Crime Watch, phone boxes, ‘portable phones’ and floppy disks, computers – and smoking indoors.
Absolutely worth a read for newcomers and fans alike. Ahead of the release of the 18th Tom Thorne book this summer (The Murder Room), I opted to reread - or listen to this book so that I could get back into the series.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Probably more 4.5
This is the 17th in the Tom Thorne series but is actually a prequel as it takes you back to 1996, near the start of Thorne's career.
As the Euro'96 football tournament starts a boy, Kieron, goes missing whilst playing in woods with his best friend, Josh. Detective Tom Thorne is tasked with finding him.
This is told from the perspective of Thorne, the boys two mums Cat (Kieron) & Maria (Josh) and Kieron's.
This was my first book by this author and a really enjoyed it. It was a mix of police procedural and character play.
Apart from a few things that made me think "Really?!?" as it wasn't a realistic thing to happen this was well written. Will be adding the other books in the series to my TBR pile.
Thank you Mark & pigeonhole for the opportunity.
This is the 17th in the Tom Thorne series but is actually a prequel as it takes you back to 1996, near the start of Thorne's career.
As the Euro'96 football tournament starts a boy, Kieron, goes missing whilst playing in woods with his best friend, Josh. Detective Tom Thorne is tasked with finding him.
This is told from the perspective of Thorne, the boys two mums Cat (Kieron) & Maria (Josh) and Kieron's.
This was my first book by this author and a really enjoyed it. It was a mix of police procedural and character play.
Apart from a few things that made me think "Really?!?" as it wasn't a realistic thing to happen this was well written. Will be adding the other books in the series to my TBR pile.
Thank you Mark & pigeonhole for the opportunity.
British crime writer Mark Billingham has written 16 novels in the DI Tom Thorne series, most of them set in North London in the present day, and all of them in sequential order — until now. This, his 17th Thorne book, is a prequel and takes place in 1996. We are introduced to a young-ish Tom Thorne and to several other recurring characters from the series (including one, later to be his best friend, who he takes an instant dislike to).
It’s great fun to see a younger version of a character who has, perhaps, grown a bit jaded over the years. But more than that, this book is a gripping read, a mystery that the reader is invited to participate in (I think I figured it out relatively early because of one too-obvious clue). And as with all of Billingham’s books, one feels the real pain of death and other crimes. This is no Agatha Christie puzzle set in a country manor. Gripping stuff, and the author in top form.
It’s great fun to see a younger version of a character who has, perhaps, grown a bit jaded over the years. But more than that, this book is a gripping read, a mystery that the reader is invited to participate in (I think I figured it out relatively early because of one too-obvious clue). And as with all of Billingham’s books, one feels the real pain of death and other crimes. This is no Agatha Christie puzzle set in a country manor. Gripping stuff, and the author in top form.
fast-paced
So, surprisingly, this is my first Mark Billingham book. Not sure why I have never picked one up before, but I have already purchased the first 4 in this series and have become a firm fan.
While this is part of a series, it is a prequel and I did not have any issue with it as a standalone novel.
I loved the 1996 setting and all of the memories/nostalgia that came with that. Thorne is a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed his relationships with other characters.
The plot is simple, child goes missing from a park, but the plotting itself is anything but simple. Just when you think you have guessed what is happening, you second guess yourself, then third guess yourself! So many twists and turns and it is very very clever.
The only thing that knocked it to 4.5 stars, rather than 5, for me was that when we found out what had happened to Kieron, the missing boy, the motive was a little vague.
A thoroughly enjoyable crime novel and I am delighted that there are loads more for me still to read!
I read this through The Pigeonhole so thanks to them, publishers and Mark Billingham for making it accessible to us lucky advance readers.
While this is part of a series, it is a prequel and I did not have any issue with it as a standalone novel.
I loved the 1996 setting and all of the memories/nostalgia that came with that. Thorne is a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed his relationships with other characters.
The plot is simple, child goes missing from a park, but the plotting itself is anything but simple. Just when you think you have guessed what is happening, you second guess yourself, then third guess yourself! So many twists and turns and it is very very clever.
The only thing that knocked it to 4.5 stars, rather than 5, for me was that when we found out what had happened to Kieron, the missing boy, the motive was a little vague.
A thoroughly enjoyable crime novel and I am delighted that there are loads more for me still to read!
I read this through The Pigeonhole so thanks to them, publishers and Mark Billingham for making it accessible to us lucky advance readers.
Rating: 4 stars.
This was a really quick read, and I quite enjoyed this installment of the Tom Thorne series. I haven't read the other books, but this intrigued me enough that I would check them out.
I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamics, I found myself really feeling with Cat because her emotions were described so raw and her pain felt so real. The intensity of the characters was the main reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did and it kept me involved in the plot during the entire read.
The plot itself felt rather slow, there wasn't a lot of suspense and I did find myself wishing for some more excitement during the first half of the book. The build-up towards the ending was well done though and I enjoyed the ending a lot, especially because I didn't see all of the plot twists coming. I do think some aspects didn't make perfect sense and could have been built up better, but most loose ends were tied up well and I was very pleased with how it ended.
Overall this was a good read and I would definitely read more books from this series.
This was a really quick read, and I quite enjoyed this installment of the Tom Thorne series. I haven't read the other books, but this intrigued me enough that I would check them out.
I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamics, I found myself really feeling with Cat because her emotions were described so raw and her pain felt so real. The intensity of the characters was the main reason I enjoyed this book as much as I did and it kept me involved in the plot during the entire read.
The plot itself felt rather slow, there wasn't a lot of suspense and I did find myself wishing for some more excitement during the first half of the book. The build-up towards the ending was well done though and I enjoyed the ending a lot, especially because I didn't see all of the plot twists coming. I do think some aspects didn't make perfect sense and could have been built up better, but most loose ends were tied up well and I was very pleased with how it ended.
Overall this was a good read and I would definitely read more books from this series.
Cry Baby is an engrossing read. Mark Billingham has captured the trauma surrounding child abduction, brilliantly - the immediate responses as well as the feelings, over time, of everyone that the crime impacts. There are a number of unforeseen and surprising events, none more unexpected or horrifying than the final twist in the tale. Thanks to the author and Pigeonhole for the ARC.